It couldn't come at a more delicate time in the Middle East. No one will say it publicly, but the Eager Lion 2012 exercise - and the 12,000 multinational forces gathering in Jordan - are sending a not-so-quiet message to others in the region: they are ready for whatever comes.

From now until the end of May, one of the largest multinational military exercises the region has seen is taking place in Jordan. There are more than 19 nations, including the United States and a number of Arab and European allies, gathering to practice their combat skills, just in case.

Several U.S. military officials say while it's not the primary intention, the exercise is meant to be noticed by Syria and Iran especially. The message: even with the United States out of Iraq, and winding up the war in Afghanistan, there is a formidable U.S. presence in the region, and other countries are capable of filling in the gaps.

The U.S. Navy already is keeping two aircraft carriers in the next-door Persian Gulf region, and stepping up the presence of minesweepers in those waters. The Air Force has sent half a dozen F-22 fighters to the United Arab Emirates. The Joint Special Operations Command has conducted several deadly drone strikes against al Qaeda in Yemen.

But Eager Lion is taking it one step further. Marines will train in southern Jordan on their amphibious landing and warfare skills. But there will also be a number of the most elite U.S. Special Operations troops, training with Jordanian special forces units in counterterrorism and other assault operations.

The exercise is part of the overall U.S. military strategy to support Jordan as that country grows increasingly concerned about the unrest across its northern border with Syria. Jordanian officials are especially concerned about the potential for Syria to forces tens of thousands of its Palestinian refugees into Jordan, as well as Syrians escaping the fighting.

There is concern in a worst case scenario that the Syrian regime could lose control of some of its chemical or biological weapons stocks and they could somehow illicitly come into Jordan.

So a major portion of the exercise will also be devoted to training together on dealing with refugee flows and managing a chemical or biological weapons crisis.

But publicly, Jordanian officials say the exercise is not about their neighbor to the north.

“This has nothing to do with Syria. We respect the sovereignty of Syria. There is no tension between the Syrians and us. Our objectives are clear.” Major General. Awni el-Edwan, Chief of staff of the Jordanian Operations and Training Armed Forces. “No forces will be deployed north of the 32nd parallel. The exercise is not connected to any real world event.”

Officials quietly acknowledge all U.S. military training in the region now could be useful in the event of action against Iran. But officials strongly say Eager Lion is not aimed at either country, only at "realistic threats" in the region as one Pentagon official described it to CNN.

"Training events such as Eager Lion provide our forces with an opportunity to practice their language skills, immerse themselves in the culture, learn different tactics, techniques and procedures," Maj. Gen. Ken Tovo, head of the U.S. Special Operations Forces, said.

U.S. Special Operations Forces is expected to take on an increasing role in Middle East, both conducting drone operations in places including Yemen, but also emphasizing training with U.S. allies in the region's countries so they can take military actions when needed themselves.

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Listen up uniformed and ignorant schmucks out there. Military exercises like this happen around the world, every year. They've been happening for YEARS. Training like this is hardly more expensive than the exercises we have CONUS (Continental US, for the uniformed), so if you're going to gripe about this, then you have to gripe about any other major exercises we have (to avoid contradicting yourself). Also, show of force / deterence is a major player in military strategy. And to the guy that said this was a skydiving vacation, you should consider yourself lucky that All-American soldier even responded to your ignorant post. All of you running your mouths should do a little self education on the facts before you post something that makes you look as dumb as you are. Everyone else, thanks for the support.

Thank god that it is some one else doing his insead of me, who can sit on my ass and give opinions and watch TV and have a nice bath room to go to. None of you pricks who spam things ever done anything in yur life and also ther are some who have>

Now we know! where some of those U.S. troops that were "pulled-out?" of Iraq have gone?, "not home!" as promised by Obama. Oh bye the way 4,000 U.S. service-persons still remain in Iraq.,under the G.W. Bush plan there would have not been a single one left there. War in Syria will make Iraq look like a day at the beach!

We tried staying out of war, it ended at Pearl Harbor. The price of freedom is an eternal vigilance. Just because it is "over there" does not mean it won't come here as evidenced by the attacks on September 11.

You do understand that it is to late to train after the event happens. Just like rescue ops, hazmat ops, etc. You really should come out of the cave you live in and face the real world that has really bad people. And yes, we are the good guys for better or worse.

Men sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. Nice for you to be one of those ignorant peaceful men eh? Why don't you join and find out what kind of "vacation" it is?

A have to agree with you. Let the wars be some were else. not here in the United States.

May 15, 2012 at 1:38 pm |

82nd

So I'm assuming you have gone to Airborne School in the past because you think it's a vacation to train right? I have and you are out of line. You need to train constantly to be perfect when needed, if not you die. Be thankful real men unlike yourself take that challenge seriously. May you sleep well tonight and eat McDonald's for dinner you POS

Special note to the small minded hippies. Note the mention of chemical and biological weapons. It was widely published, then silented, that many tractor trailers were leaving suspected Iraqi bases in the 2 weeks before the Iraq War and cross the border with Syria, with the help of the Russians. Then, surprisingly, the Russians started bringing pressure to bear on Iran about nukes, and we stopped investigating about the dirty deals under the oil for food program as we grabbed docuuments shortly after invasion. There is your conspiracy and there are your WMD's. Just like in the first Gulf war when Saddam flew his air force to Iran. Except, Syria is not a signatory to chemical and biological bans.

Military Excercises are usual but each excercise has a specific contingency scenario. And if the scenario is very similar to what is happening in the neighborhood, then a simple excercise can be projected as a show of force to warn or deter a specific and potential enemy. So its not the event but what is being done in the event that counts and the more the media is informed about the scenario the more show of force/ warnings the training armies want to project. ..... This is just a simple laymans opinion.

These training exercises are in prep for possible international intervention when things get out of hand. Also, it is an excellent way to train and integrate forces with other nations for common goals. Better equipped, trained, and lower cost.

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